Wall eyes Caviar clash

Plenty of options for top sprinter

Trainer Chris Wall is considering whether to let Royal Rock take on Black Caviar in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday week.

Should the eight-year-old skip a clash with the Australian super mare at the Royal meeting, then he could run at either Newmarket or Newcastle a week later.

"He may run in the Diamond Jubilee. He doesn't need soft ground, but a bit of juice in the ground suits him," said the Newmarket trainer.

"He'd be up against Black Caviar, but it would mean something if we could be placed behind her."

The trainer was pleased with Royal Rock's fifth behind Pastoral Player over seven furlongs at Haydock on his latest start.

"It was a good run at Haydock. He'd been off the track since the Lincoln meeting at Doncaster so he was in need of that race," said Wall.

"He'd done himself quite well and was a bit overweight for that race. He came with a chance then blew up.

"He's in good form and has come out of it very well, but it showed that he does stay seven furlongs, so if we don't go for the Diamond Jubilee it would give us a few more opportunities for him, rather than having to wait for six-furlong races.

"If he didn't go to Royal Ascot don't be surprised if he turned up over seven furlongs somewhere.

"With the ground you've just got to see. The next seven-furlong race for him might be the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket, the weekend after Royal Ascot.

"The same day there's the Chipchase at Newcastle, a Group Three over six. They are the two options if he didn't go to Ascot. He's lumbered with a penalty up until July then we're in the clear."